Well, I Suppose One Argument is That Gays Don't Buy Domestic Cars Anyway

Of course, Ford has a right to advertise where it wants.
Of course, Ford has a right not to advertise where it doesn't want.
And of course, Ford has the right to change its mind about previous advertising decisions.

But Ford was wrong to pull ads from gay publications simply because the repressed theocratic asshats at the American Family Association threatened a boycott.  If William Clay Ford had a pair, he'd tell Don Wildmon to stuff it, and double his page buys in Out.

I guarantee the gays have more disposable income than the morons in the AFA.

UPDATE: Of course, Ford is spending a lot of time patching the sinking boat, so rocking it isn't what they want to do right now.  It's just easier to give in to the Christian moralists.

UPDATE 2: Yes, I forgot about Jaguar and Land Rover.  Chances are good (really good) that there are more gay-owned Range Rovers than AFA member-owned ones.  So I'm back to thinking this was a bad business decision as well as a reprehensible moral one.

UPDATE 3: Read Robert Farago on the subject.  He did not shy (as I did) from invoking the vile Henry Ford's history of bigotry.

UPDATE 4: A correction.  AFA did not threaten a boycott; they conducted one, and called it off when Ford caved.  Which tells you two things: 1) I don't pay any attention to what the AFA does or says, and 2) Their boycotts don't carry much weight, as noted by Chris in comments below.

Comments

[Chris]

Kevin Drum makes the excellent point that AFA's boycotts have been incredibly ineffective in the past, which would corroborate your conclusion in point #2

[storyville]

i'm not sure about the AFA's track record, but this boycott sure did get the company involved to change tactics. How often do the AFA's boycotts have little effect on consumer spending but big effects with the company's products which they are boycotting?

[Joe aka BigFordFan]

CP, I am a huge Ford fan, that's obvious. But Ford has done far more damgage by capitualating to the schmucks at the AFA than by they ever could have by advertising in LGBT media or supporting Pride events.

I know many gay people who just won't buy a Ford because of this percieved betrayal. Stupid move, and without an immediate major reversal on this Ford will continue to just look the fool.

By the way, like how your "Updates" make the pride flag. You trying to show silent solidarity?

[carpundit]

Joe,
That was a good laugh-out-loud to get the day going. No, I never thought of that; just drawing attention. Good observation.
CP

[eeka]

PFFFT, what kind of wonky pride flag do you have going on? His colors are pretty flaming, but they don't make the pride flag... ;o)

[Joe aka BigFordFan]

Sorry about the mistake, I'm really not that familiar with the Pride flag. It just struck me as funny. To me a rainbow is a rainbow.

But this issue (Ford and the AFA) has been buzzing all over. Nasty comments on my blog, and now everyone is dredging up Henry's legendary anti semetism and Ford's cooperation with the Nazis in WWII. Check AmercaBlog for the details. http://americablog.blogspot.com